. >> tears of joy in fort hood, texas. soldiers of the last combat brigade to leave iraq got home just in time for christmas. others weren't so lucky. troops are leaving georgia this christmas eve for a new tour of duty in afghanistan. >> just how people support us, especially during the holiday season. we are away from our families. >> they will join tens of thousands of soldiers still fighting in afghanistan. some attended church service it's sad being i away from my family but this is also my family. >> and the president remembers those. >> let's say a prayer for all our troops standing post all over the world, especially the brave men and women in afghanistan. >> and pope benedict xvi lit a candle in his window. a traditional sign of peace. a few hours later he celebrated the traditional christmas eve mass. ♪ >> and more than 100,000 tourists and pilgrims backed bethlehem to celebrate the traditional christmas mass, the christmas nativity at the birthplace of jesus. chuck severson, abc news. >> he survived a suicide